CRICH PARISH

William Fox (1892–1924)

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)

11684

1st Battalion
3rdBattalion

Conaught Rangers

11307

The Courier, 3 July 1915

Notes

William Fox was born in 1893 the son of William and Ellen Fox of Bull Bridge. His mother died when he was a young child and he was then adopted by James and Mary Redfern who lived at Buckland Hollow. In 1911 he was an eighteen-year-old miner and boarder with the Throssell family at Upper Hartshay. He had a relationship with their daughter Annie Throssell and they had two daughters, Mary Ellen and Annie. William and Annie married in 1924.
He was an early volunteer, enlisting in 1914 before being posted to France in November 1914. His brother Francis Fox is also on the Roll of Honour.

Ripley & Heanor News 2 April 1915WAR ITEMSInformation has been received at Bull Bridge by Mr William Fox that his son, Private William Fox, 1st Notts and Derby Regiment, recently returned from India, has been wounded and is now in hospital, but hoping soon to be discharged.

Belper News, 20 August 1915
Private William Fox, son-in-law of Mrs Throssell, Upper Hartshay, and son of Mr W Fox, Bull Bridge, Ambergate, is to rejoin his regiment at the Front (the 3rd Sherwood Foresters) next week. Private W Fox has seen service in India, was out at the Front and in several engagements. He was severely wounded and in hospital at Exeter for sometime. Some short time ago he was married at Pentrich to Miss Throssell, Upper Hartshay. He has been stationed for some weeks in Sunderland.

Belper News, 10 September 1915
Private W Fox, Jr, Sherwood Foresters of Bull Bridge, Ambergate and Upper Hartshay, who was wounded at Neuve Chapelle and was for a time at the Magdalene Hospital, Exeter, and then in this district, arrived in the Dardanelles last Friday. On his way out Private W Fox came across some wounded soldiers coming to England, and with one of these he sent a brief message to his wife, Mrs W Fox to receive this short letter, went to Derby and there waited many hours. Private W Fox is the son of Mr W Fox, Bull Bridge, Ambergate and in his youth was much in the district of Over Heage. He has seen service in India.

Belper News, 11 February 1916
No news has been received for eleven weeks of Private W Throssell and Private W. Fox, Upper Hartshay, are naturally much concerned Foresters. The last that was heard from them was a Field Service Postcard, saying a letter would follow and also intimating that they were on the move. The letter so far has failed to arrive. Private W Fox is the son of Mr W Fox, Bulls Bridge, and was severely wounded on the Western Front. While here he was married to Miss Throssell, of Upper Hartshay, and was then sent out East, where he actually met his brother-in-law, who had gone some months previously to the East. Since the meeting Private Fox and Private Throssell have been comrades in arms together. Mrs Philip Throssell and her daughter, Mrs W Fox who reside together at Upper Hartshay, are naturally much concerned at the long absence of news. The last they heard was to the effect that both were in good health and spirits.

Derbyshire Courier, 25 March 1916
News has been received at Bull Bridge, Ambergate, that Private W Fox Sherwood Foresters, 33rd Brigade, B M E F, has been wounded in the leg and has recovered. In a letter to his sister he says he's made up his mind to earn his fortune in Australia after the war. He has been offered a position on a cattle ranch, had promised the man who made him the offer that he will work with him directly the war is over. This is the second time Private Fox has been wounded. The first occasion was at Neuve Chapelle last year. He was in hospital at Exeter, and during his convalescence an operation was performed. He was married to Miss Throssell, Upper Hartshay, Ripley, upon rejoining his regiment he went east. He formerly worked at Hartshay Colliery.

Medal Roll Index Cards
William was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
He disembarked 4/11/14

The Sherwood Foresters Roll
William Fox enlisted with the TA on 1 June 1924 when aged 32 years 7 months. He was a miner by trade who had previously served with the Sherwood Foresters and Conaught Rangers for a total of twelve years. He married Annie Throstel in Pentrich 28 June 1924 and had daughters Mary Ellen born 22 March 1919 and Annie born 25 March 1920; both born at Upper Hartsay.

The Courier, Saturday, 3 July 1915FOX-THROSSELLPrivate William Fox, 1st Sherwood Foresters, a convalescent soldier who had been wounded at Neuvre Chalelle, was married on Monday at Pentrich church to miss Alice Throssell, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Philip Throssell, of Upper Hartsay, Ripey. The bridegroom who is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs William Fox of Bullbridge, Ambergate, fought in France seven months before he was wounded. He was afterwards taken to the Base Hospital and then to Exeter Hospital. He served three years in India. Married on Monday he went to Derby barracks on Tuesday and expects shortly to be sent back in the fighting line.The bride who was in a white military dress with a white hat had an Indian rupee the gift of the bridegroom and she wore the badge of the Notts and Derby Regiment. Her bouquet was of lilies and roses. She was given away by her sister. The bridesmaids were Miss Ellen Throssell sister of the bride and Miss Sarah Straw. They were in brown with white Panama hats. The ceremony was performed by the Rev A Wright. A Reception was held at the bride's home, Upper Hartshay.